Johannesburg - The trial of Lindrey Khakhu, 22, accused of shooting dead Westbury toddler Luke Tibbetts began in the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Monday.
Khakhu faces a total of 18 charges, ranging from murder to attempted murder and the illegal possession of a firearm.
Dressed in a light blue shirt and brown pants, he sat in the dock and followed the testimony of Andre Mooi.
Mooi, who is currently in prison for car theft, testified that Khakhu shot at him and his friend Ronald Plaatjies on January 5, 2013.
The two of them had been outside Mooi's girlfriend's house when Khakhu walked past them.
Mooi testified that Khakhu gave him a “dirty look” and he asked him what his problem was.
Khakhu walked a few steps, took out his firearm, and shot at them, said Mooi.
He and his friend escaped unharmed.
They later opened a case at the local police station.
The court heard that Khakhu shot dead Mooi's brother Alton five months after he had allegedly fired shots at Mooi and Plaatjies.
Under cross-examination by prosecutor Deon van Wyk, Mooi denied having an ulterior motive for testifying against Khakhu.
“This (the shooting) happened five months before he killed my brother,” said Mooi.
Van Wyk criticised Mooi's testimony.
He questioned whether Mooi was fabricating evidence, as he could not understand how he could remember what Khakhu had been wearing on the night he allegedly shot at them, but could not recall what his friend Plaatjies had been wearing.
Plaatjies also took the stand on Monday and began delivering his testimony in Afrikaans.
Sapa